CN110873807A

CN110873807A - Sample rack

Info

Publication number: CN110873807A
Application number: CN201910797701.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 小田浩平; 松浦泰幸
Original assignee: Sysmex Corp
Current assignee: Sysmex Corp
Priority date: 2018-08-31
Filing date: 2019-08-27
Publication date: 2020-03-10
Also published as: JP2020034512A; US20200072857A1; US11346853B2; JP6743099B2; EP3617712A1

Abstract

The invention provides a sample rack capable of reducing the load of an operator when confirming the sample amount. A sample rack (10) for placing sample containers containing samples and conveying the placed sample containers is provided with: a container mounting part (110) for mounting a sample container; and a mark (141) for measuring the amount of the sample contained in the sample container mounted on the container mounting part (110). The operator can quickly and easily grasp the amount of the sample in the sample container by comparing the liquid level of the sample in the sample container set in the container setting part (110) with the position of the mark. Therefore, the burden on the operator in confirming the sample amount can be reduced.

Description

Sample rack

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a specimen rack for carrying specimens.

Background

Patent document 1 describes a sample analyzer that optically measures and analyzes a plasma sample by irradiating a measurement sample prepared by adding a reagent to the plasma sample with light and using a coagulation method, a synthetic matrix method, an immunoturbidimetric method, and an agglutination method. As shown in fig. 17, in this sample analyzer, the sample container 520 is transported to the aspirating position of the aspirating unit in a state of being set in the sample rack 510.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1 japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2011-.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

In general, in an apparatus for performing measurement related to blood coagulation test, immunological test, and biochemical test, if a sample container does not contain a fixed amount or more of sample, normal measurement cannot be performed. Therefore, the operator needs to confirm whether or not a fixed amount of sample is contained in the sample container when the sample container is set in the sample rack. However, such a confirmation operation is very complicated, for example, to place a ruler on the sample container to measure the amount of the sample, and thus is a burden on the operator.

Means for solving the problems

The present invention according to claim 1 relates to a specimen rack for placing specimen containers (20) containing specimens and transporting the placed specimen containers (20). A specimen holder (10) according to the present invention is provided with: a container mounting part (110) for mounting a sample container (20); and a mark (141) for measuring the amount of the sample contained in the sample container (20) mounted on the container mounting portion (110).

According to the specimen rack of the present invention, the operator can quickly and easily grasp the amount of the specimen in the specimen container by comparing the liquid level of the specimen in the specimen container set in the container setting portion with the position of the marker. Therefore, the burden on the operator in confirming the sample amount can be reduced.

Can be designed as follows: the sample rack (10) according to the present embodiment is provided with a plurality of markers (141). Thus, the amount of the sample in the sample container can be easily grasped.

At this time, it can be designed that: a plurality of marks (141) are arranged at equal intervals. In this way, the amount of the sample in the sample container can be grasped more easily.

Can be designed as follows: in the sample rack (10) according to the present embodiment, the interval between the plurality of marks (141) is 1mm to 10 mm. The length of the sample in the vertical direction required for measurement in the sample container is, for example, in the range of approximately several millimeters to several tens of millimeters depending on the type of the sample container. If the interval between the plurality of marks is set to be 1mm to 10mm, the operator can easily grasp the amount of the sample in the sample container.

Can be designed as follows: in the sample holder (10) according to the present embodiment, the interval between the plurality of marks (141) is 2mm to 5 mm. For example, when the sample is plasma and the separated plasma is located in the upper layer in the sample container, the plasma is preferably aspirated by moving the nozzle upward by 5mm or more away from the white membrane layer located at the boundary between the plasma portion and the blood cell portion. If the interval between the plurality of marks is set to 2mm to 5mm as described above, it can be easily grasped in advance whether or not there is a plasma layer of 5mm or more upward from the leucocyte layer.

Can be designed as follows: a specimen holder (10) according to the present invention is provided with: and markers (142) respectively arranged on the markers (141) arranged at a certain interval among the markers (141). In this way, since the markers are arranged at equal intervals on the markers, the number of markers corresponding to the sample size can be easily counted. Therefore, the sample size can be grasped more quickly and easily.

Can be designed as follows: in a specimen rack (10) according to the present invention, a plurality of markers (141) includes: a 1 st mark group in which marks (141) are arranged in the vertical direction, and a 2 nd mark group in which marks (141) are arranged in the vertical direction; intervals of the plurality of marks (141) in the 1 st mark group and intervals of the plurality of marks (141) in the 2 nd mark group are different from each other. In this way, the operator can appropriately grasp the amount of the sample in the sample container by using the appropriate mark for the sample container by distinguishing the mark using the 1 st mark group or the mark using the 2 nd mark group according to the width of the sample in the vertical direction in the sample container.

Can be designed as follows: in the sample rack (10) according to the present invention, the color given to the sample rack (10) is set according to the type of the interval between the plurality of marks (141). In this way, the operator can use the sample rack separately according to the vertical width of the sample in the sample container, thereby using the appropriate mark for the sample container and appropriately grasping the amount of the sample in the sample container. Further, the operator can recognize the sample rack having different intervals of the mark by the color, and thus can use the appropriate sample rack reliably.

Can be designed as follows: in the sample rack (10) according to the present embodiment, a plurality of markers (141) are arranged in the vertical direction of the sample rack (10). Thus, the amount of the sample in the sample container can be smoothly grasped.

Can be designed as follows: in the sample rack (10) according to the present invention, the mark (141) is provided at least at the upper portion with respect to the center of the container placement unit (110) in the vertical direction. Thus, for example, when the sample is plasma and the separated plasma is located in the upper layer in the sample container, the amount of plasma in the sample container can be grasped by the marker.

Can be designed as follows: in the sample rack (10) according to the present invention, the mark (141) is provided at least at a lower portion with respect to the center of the container placement unit (110) in the vertical direction. In this way, the amount of sample in the sample container can be ascertained by the marking, for example when the sample container contains only a small amount of sample.

Can be designed as follows: in the sample rack (10) according to the present embodiment, the mark (141) is arranged with the bottom surface of the container mounting portion (110) as a starting point. In this way, the height of the bottom surface of the container mounting portion is almost equal to the height of the bottom surface of the sample container provided in the container mounting portion. Therefore, the amount of the sample in the sample container can be confirmed from the bottom surface of the sample container provided in the container mounting portion.

Can be designed as follows: in the sample rack (10) according to the present embodiment, the mark (141) is formed of a predetermined shape formed on the sample rack (10) or a predetermined decoration given to the sample rack (10). The predetermined shape is, for example, a concave portion or a convex portion. Certain decorations are for example labels, graphics printed on the labels.

Can be designed as follows: in the sample rack (10) according to the present embodiment, the mark (141) is formed by a concave-convex formed in the sample rack (10). This improves the durability of the mark.

Can be designed as follows: in the sample rack (10) according to the present invention, the mark (141) is provided adjacent to the container mounting portion (110). Thus, the amount of the sample placed in the sample container of the container placement portion can be smoothly grasped.

Can be designed as follows: the sample rack (10) according to the present invention is provided with a plurality of container placement units (110). Thus, a plurality of samples can be transported by transporting 1 sample rack.

At this time, it can be designed that: the mark (141) is disposed between 2 adjacent container placement units (110). In this way, the amount of the sample placed in the sample container of the adjacent 2 container placement portions can be grasped using the marker. This makes it possible to simplify the structure of the specimen rack, compared to the case where the marks are arranged so as to correspond to all the container placement portions one by one.

Can be designed as follows: the sample rack (10) according to the present invention is provided with a space (130) for attaching an identification member (101) for identifying the sample rack (10). The identification member is, for example, a bar code label or an RFID label printed with a bar code. When the space is provided in this manner, the specimen rack can be easily recognized by attaching the recognition member to the space.

Can be designed as follows: in the sample rack (10) according to the present invention, the sample rack (10) is designed to have a width that allows a transport section (31) for transporting sample containers (20) to transport the sample containers.

Can be designed as follows: a specimen holder (10) according to the present invention is provided with: a plurality of container seats (110); and a side surface (10 a) provided with an opening (111), wherein the opening (111) is used for reading an identification member (201) which is attached to a sample container (20) of a container mounting part (110) and used for identifying a sample through an information reading part (373) of a sample analysis device (30), and the mark (141) is arranged between 2 adjacent openings (111). In this way, the amount of the sample placed in the sample container of the adjacent 2 container placement portions can be grasped using the marker. This makes it possible to simplify the structure of the specimen rack, compared to the case where the marks are arranged so as to correspond to all the container placement portions one by one.

At this time, it can be designed that: a sample rack (10) according to the present invention is provided with a space (130) for attaching an identification member (101) for identifying the sample rack (10) on a side surface (10 a) provided with an opening (111). In this way, the information reading unit of the sample analyzer can read both the identification member of the sample rack and the identification member of the sample container from one side of the sample rack.

Can be designed as follows: the sample rack (10) according to the present invention is used in a sample analyzer (30), the sample analyzer (30) comprising a rack storage section (41) for storing sample racks (10) on which samples are placed, and a transport path (42 a) for transporting the sample racks (10) stored in the rack storage section (41), the sample rack (10) comprising: and an engaging section (133) that engages with a projection (312) provided on the bottom surface (41 a) of the rack storage section (41) and extending in a direction toward the conveyance path (42 a). In this way, the sample rack moves in the rack storage unit while the engaging portion is along the projection provided on the bottom surface of the rack storage unit. Therefore, the operator can reliably place the sample rack in the rack storage portion by sliding the sample rack relative to the regulating member with the engaging portion along the projection. Further, the carrying member for carrying the sample rack set in the rack storage section to the carrying path can surely carry the sample rack in the carrying direction to the carrying path.

Can be designed as follows: the sample rack (10) according to the present invention is used in a sample analyzer (30), the sample analyzer (30) comprising a rack storage section (41) for storing sample racks (10) on which samples are placed, and a transport path (42 a) for transporting the sample racks (10) stored in the rack storage section (41), the sample rack (10) comprising: and an engagement section (135) that engages with a projection (313) provided on a side portion of the rack storage section (41) and extending in a direction toward the conveyance path (42 a). In this way, the specimen rack moves in the rack storage section in a state where the engaging section is along the projection provided at the side portion of the rack storage section. Therefore, the operator can reliably place the sample rack in the rack storage portion by sliding the sample rack relative to the regulating member with the engaging portion along the projection. Further, the carrying member for carrying the sample rack set in the rack storage section to the carrying path can surely carry the sample rack in the carrying direction to the carrying path.

Can be designed as follows: in a sample rack (10) according to the present invention, a sample container (20) is a sample container that has been subjected to centrifugal separation processing for separating plasma from whole blood, and the amount of plasma that can be stored in the sample container (20) is marked (141).

The invention according to claim 2 relates to a specimen rack for placing specimen containers (20) containing specimens and transporting the placed specimen containers (20). A specimen holder (10) according to the present invention is provided with: a container mounting part (110) for mounting a sample container (20) for accommodating a sample, a plurality of marks (141) arranged at equal intervals, and markers (142) respectively arranged on the marks (141) arranged in a certain number in a hollow way in the plurality of marks (141).

According to the specimen rack of the present invention, the operator can quickly and easily grasp the amount of the specimen in the specimen container using the marker, as in the specimen rack of claim 1. Further, since the markers are arranged at equal intervals on the plurality of markers, the number of markers corresponding to the sample amount can be easily counted. Therefore, the sample size can be grasped more quickly and easily.

Can be designed as follows: in the sample rack (10) related to the technical scheme, the certain number is 1.

Can be designed as follows: in the sample rack (10) according to the present embodiment, the marker (142) is formed of a predetermined shape formed on the sample rack (10) or a predetermined decoration provided to the sample rack (10). The predetermined shape is, for example, a concave portion or a convex portion. Certain decorations are for example labels, graphics printed on the labels.

Can be designed as follows: in the sample rack (10) according to the present embodiment, the marker (142) is formed by a projection and a recess formed in the sample rack (10). This improves the durability of the marker.

The invention according to claim 3 relates to a specimen rack for placing specimen containers (20) containing specimens and transporting the placed specimen containers (20). A specimen holder (10) according to the present invention is provided with: a container mounting unit (110) for mounting a sample container (20) containing a sample; a plurality of marks (141) arranged at equal intervals with the bottom surface of the container mounting part (110) as a starting point.

According to the specimen rack of the present invention, the operator can quickly and easily grasp the amount of the specimen in the specimen container using the marker, as in the specimen rack of claim 1. In addition, the height of the bottom surface of the container mounting portion is almost the same as the height of the bottom surface of the sample container provided in the container mounting portion. Therefore, the amount of the sample in the sample container can be confirmed from the bottom surface of the sample container provided in the container mounting portion. Further, since the plurality of marks are arranged at equal intervals, the amount of the sample in the sample container can be easily grasped.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, the burden on the operator in confirming the sample amount can be reduced.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the structure of a specimen holder according to embodiment 1;

fig. 2 (a) is a perspective view of the structure of the sample container according to embodiment 1; fig. 2 (b) is a perspective view of the structure of the placement tool according to embodiment 1; FIG. 2 (c) is a perspective view showing a state in which a mounting tool and a barcode label are set in a sample rack according to embodiment 1;

fig. 3 (a) and (b) are explanatory diagrams showing a procedure of determining whether or not the amount of plasma separated into the upper layer required for the measurement is contained in the sample container according to embodiment 1;

fig. 4 (a) and (b) are explanatory diagrams illustrating a procedure of determining whether or not the transferred plasma of an amount necessary for measurement is contained in the sample container according to embodiment 1;

fig. 5 is a block diagram showing the structure of a sample analyzer according to embodiment 1;

fig. 6 is a schematic view of the configuration of the conveying section and the measuring section according to embodiment 1 when viewed from above;

fig. 7 is a perspective view of the structure of a sample rack according to embodiment 1;

fig. 8 is a schematic view of the structure of the conveying unit according to embodiment 1;

fig. 9 (a) and (b) are oblique views of the structures of the specimen rack and the rack storage section according to embodiment 1;

fig. 10 (a) and (b) are explanatory views of the amount of sample required for measurement and the scale number corresponding to the amount of sample required for measurement according to embodiment 1;

fig. 11 (a) is a perspective view of the structure of a marker and a marker according to embodiment 2; fig. 11 (b) is a perspective view of the structure of a marker and a marker according to a modification of embodiment 2;

fig. 12 (a) is a perspective view of the structure of a marker and a marker according to a modification of embodiment 2; FIG. 12 (b) is a perspective view of the structure of the marker and the marker according to embodiment 3;

FIG. 13 (a) is a perspective view of a structure of a marker and a marker according to embodiment 4; FIG. 13 (b) is a perspective view showing the structure of a marker and a marker according to a modification of embodiment 4;

FIG. 14 (a) is a perspective view of a structure of a marker and a marker according to embodiment 5; FIG. 14 (b) is a perspective view showing the structure of a marker and a marker according to a modification of embodiment 5;

FIG. 15 is a schematic side view of the structure of a sample rack according to embodiment 6;

fig. 16 (a) to (c) are schematic side views of the structure of the specimen holder according to embodiment 7;

fig. 17 is a schematic diagram for explaining a structure according to the related art.

Detailed Description

< embodiment 1 >

The sample rack 10 shown below is a rack for receiving the sample containers 20, and is used in the sample analyzer 30. The sample analyzer 30 includes a conveying unit 31 and a measuring unit 32. The transport unit 31 transports the sample rack 10, and thereby the sample container 20 mounted on the sample rack 10 is transported to a position for aspirating a sample by the measurement unit 32. That is, the sample rack 10 is used to transport the sample to the measurement unit 32. The sample container 20 will be described later with reference to fig. 2 (a). The sample analyzer 30, the conveying unit 31, and the measuring unit 32 will be described later with reference to fig. 5 and 6.

In fig. 1, XYZ axes are orthogonal to each other, and the X axis direction and the Y axis direction correspond to a direction parallel to a horizontal plane. The positive direction of the X axis corresponds to the left direction, the positive direction of the Y axis corresponds to the rear direction, and the positive direction of the Z axis corresponds to the vertical lower direction. In other figures, XYZ axes are also set in the same manner as in fig. 1.

As shown in fig. 1, the sample rack 10 includes a container placement unit 110, a support member 121, a space 130, a plane 140, a mark 141, a marker 142, and a shelf unit 150.

The outer shape of the specimen holder 10 is almost a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the width w2 in the X-axis direction is longer than the width w1 in the Y-axis direction. Since the specimen rack 10 is conveyed by the conveying unit 31 described later, the widths w1 and w2 of the specimen rack 10 are designed so that the conveying unit 31 can convey the specimen rack. More specifically, the sample rack 10 is conveyed in the X-axis direction by the conveying section 31 in a conveying region having a small width in the Y-axis direction. Therefore, the width w1 of the specimen rack 10 in the short width direction is small to ensure that the transport unit 31 described later can transport the specimen rack. In embodiment 1, the width w1 is 25 mm.

The container placement portions 110 are holes formed in a downward direction from the upper side of the

sample rack

10, and 6 are formed in the X-axis direction. The container mounting portion 110 mounts the sample container 20 described later in a state of standing in the Z-axis direction. An opening 111 is formed on the Y-axis positive side of the container mounting portion 110. After the sample container 20 is set in the container setting portion 110, the side surface of the sample container 20 is opened in the Y-axis positive direction through the opening 111. The opening 111 is provided for allowing an information reading portion 373, which will be described later, to read a barcode from the identification member 201 attached to the sample container 20.

Hereinafter, the positions of 6 container placement units 110 arranged in the X-axis negative direction from the container placement unit 110 on the X-axis positive side are referred to as positions 11 to 16, respectively. The container mounting portions 110 at positions 11 to 16 have the same shape, and have a diameter d1 when viewed in the Z-axis direction. Specifically, embodiment 1 has a diameter d1 of 16 mm.

When the sample rack 10 includes the plurality of container mounting portions 110, the plurality of samples can be transported to the measurement portion by transporting 1 sample rack 10. The number of the container seats 110 formed in the sample rack 10 is not limited to 6, and may be other numbers.

The support member 121 is a circular member provided at the lower side of the container seating part 110. The support member 121 has a recess 121a formed on an upper surface thereof, and when the sample container 20 is placed on each portion of the container placing portion 110, the bottom surface of the sample container 20 is supported by the recess 121a of the support member 121. That is, the recess 121a constitutes the bottom surface of the container mounting portion 110. When the sample container 20 is supported by the concave portion 121a, the lower end of the sample container 20 is positioned at almost the same height as the rack portion 150.

The Y-axis positive side of the sample holder 10 is formed with a side surface 10a parallel to the X-Z plane. The opening 111, the space 130, and the flat surface 140 are provided on the side surface 10 a. The space 130 is a plane parallel to the X-Z plane provided between the opening 111 of the container seating part 110 at the position 11 and the opening 111 of the container seating part 110 at the position 12. The space 130 has a predetermined area and is a region to which the identification member 101 described later is attached. The space 130 is not necessarily a plane, and may be a surface having irregularities or a curved surface. When the space 130 is provided, the identification member 101 is attached to the space 130, whereby the specimen rack 10 can be easily identified.

The plane 140 is a plane parallel to the X-Z plane and provided between the openings 111 of the container mounting portions 110 at positions 12 to 16. The planar surface 140 is formed with a plurality of indicia 141 and a plurality of identifiers 142. The mark 141 and the marker 142 are disposed between the adjacent 2 openings 111.

11 concave portions 140a recessed in the Y-axis negative direction are formed in the 1 plane 140 so as to be aligned in the Z-axis direction. At this time, a part of the flat surface 140 remains between the concave portions 140a adjacent in the Z-axis direction. The mark 141 is constituted by a portion of the plane 140 located between 2 concave portions 140a adjacent in the Z-axis direction. Thus, the plurality of marks 141 are arranged in the vertical direction of the sample rack 10 and in the depth direction of the sample in the sample container 20 set in the container setting part 110. The concave portions 140a are arranged from the shelf portion 150 of the sample rack 10 to the upper side surface of the sample rack 10. Thus, the plurality of marks 141 are arranged in an upward direction from the bottom surface of the container mounting portion 110. The interval of the 2 marks 141 arranged in the vertical direction, i.e., the interval of 1 division, is 5 mm.

The marker 142 is constituted by a cutout formed in the mark 141. The markers 142 are disposed on every 1 of the plurality of markers 141. That is, the marker 142 is formed on the 1 st, 3 rd, 5 th, 7 th, and 9 th marks 141 from bottom to top. The marker 142 is not limited to being disposed in every 1 st row of the markers 141, and may be disposed in every several rows of the markers 141.

As shown in fig. 2 (a), the sample container 20 includes an identification member 201, a plug 210, a body 220, and a lid 230.

The body 220 is a blood collection tube made of translucent glass or synthetic resin, and houses a sample. An opening 221 is formed at the upper end of the body portion 220. The plug body 210 is made of synthetic resin or the like having elasticity. The plug 210 seals an opening 221 at the upper end of the body 220 in which the sample is received. The lid 230 is made of plastic, and covers the plug 210 attached to the body 220 from above. A hole 231 penetrating vertically is formed in the center of the cover 230. The identification member 201 is attached to the side surface of the trunk portion 220. The identification member 201 is a barcode label printed with a barcode representing sample information. The sample information is information that can individually identify a sample. The identification member 201 is not limited to a barcode label, and may be, for example, an RFID label as long as it is a member for identifying a sample.

As shown in fig. 2 (b), the

setting tools

122, 123, 124 are used to change the inner diameter of the container setting part 110 in accordance with the outer diameter of the sample container 20 set on the container setting part 110. The diameter of the outer surface of the mounting

tool

122, 123, 124 is almost the same as the diameter of the inner surface of the container mounting portion 110, and is d 1. The inside diameter of the receiving tool 122 is d2, d2 being smaller than d 1. The inner peripheral portion of the seating tool 123 is formed with 3 leaf springs 123a, and the inner peripheral portion of the seating tool 124 is formed with 3 leaf springs 124 a.

As shown in FIG. 2 (c), when the inner diameter of the container placement unit 110 is to be changed, the placement tools 122 to 124 are provided in 6 container placement units 110. Thus, the outer diameter of the sample container 20 placed by the container placing part 110 is changed from d1 to d 2. In addition, the position of the sample container 20 mounted on the container mounting portion 110 can be prevented from being displaced by the

leaf springs

123a and 124 a. The outer diameter of the sample container 20, that is, the diameter of the outer surface of the body portion 220 of the sample container 20, may be, for example, 11mm, 13mm, or 16 mm. When the sample container 20 has outer diameters of 11mm and 13mm, the mounting tool 122 having inner surfaces with diameters d2 of 11mm and 13mm is used. When the outer diameter of the sample container 20 is 16mm, the placement tools 122 to 124 are not used.

In addition, when the sample rack 10 is to be identified, the identifying member 101 is attached to the space 130 of the sample rack 10. The identification member 101 is a bar code label printed with a bar code representing shelf information. The rack information is information that can individually identify the sample rack 10. The identification member 101 is not limited to a barcode label, and may be, for example, an RFID label as long as it is a member for identifying the sample rack 10.

In addition, the mounting tools 122 to 124 and the identifying member 101 are not usually provided at the time of shipment of the specimen rack 10. The mounting tools 122-124 and the recognition member 101 are provided according to the operation of the facility or the like in which the specimen rack 10 is used. For example, in a facility where sample containers 20 having different outer diameters are used and the sample racks 10 are individually identified, the placement tools 122 to 124 are suitably provided, and the identifying member 101 is attached to the sample rack 10. On the other hand, when the sample container 20 to be used is determined in advance and the sample rack 10 is determined to be recognized in advance, the identification member 101 may be attached to the space 130 by providing appropriate mounting tools 122 to 124 in the container mounting portion 110 before the sample rack 10 is shipped.

Next, referring to fig. 3 (a) and (b), a procedure for determining whether or not a sample necessary for measurement is contained in the sample container 20 by the marker 141 and the marker 142 will be described.

Fig. 3 (a) and (b) show a state in which the centrifuged sample container 20 is set in the container setting part 110 at the position 16 of the sample rack 10, and the sample stored in the sample container 20 is plasma. This will be explained below.

Whole blood collected from a subject is stored in a sample container 20 in which sodium citrate is stored. The operator separates plasma from which the blood cell components are removed from the blood to which sodium citrate is added as a supernatant by centrifuging the sample container 20. Then, the operator places the sample container 20, which has been subjected to centrifugal separation processing for separating plasma from whole blood, in the sample rack 10. At this time, the operator places the centrifuged sample container 20 on the container seating portion 110 of the sample rack 10 and makes it possible to know the state inside the sample container 20. That is, the operator positions the sample container 20 on the container seating portion 110 such that the identification member 201 of the sample container 20 is located on the opposite side of the opening 111 of the container seating portion 110.

At this time, as shown in fig. 3 (a) and (b), a plasma region and a red blood cell region separated from the whole blood are formed on the upper side and the lower side, respectively, in the sample container 20. In addition, a layer of platelets and white blood cells called the buffy coat is formed between the plasma region and the red blood cell region.

The operator measures the distance from the upper surface of the white film layer to the upper surface of the plasma in the sample container 20 set in the container setting part 110, that is, the distance in the vertical direction of the plasma region, by visual observation using the marker 141 and the marker 142 adjacent to the container setting part 110. That is, the mark 141 and the marker 142 are designed to measure the amount of plasma received in the sample container 20 mounted on the container mounting portion 110. Then, the operator compares the measured distance with the amount of the sample necessary for measurement, and determines whether or not the amount of the sample necessary for measurement is present in the sample container 20.

In the state shown in fig. 3 (a), the operator visually observes information that the distance in the vertical direction of the plasma region corresponds to 4 gradations of the mark 141. Then, the operator determines that the sample container 20 contains the sample amount necessary for the measurement based on the fact that the 4-scale obtained by the visual observation is larger than the 2-scale corresponding to the sample amount necessary for the measurement. When the sample amount necessary for the measurement is stored in this manner, the operator places the sample rack 10 on the conveyance unit while maintaining the state in which the sample container 20 is placed on the sample rack 10. Thus, the sample in the sample container 20 is transferred to the measurement section by the sample rack 10, and the plasma in the supernatant portion is aspirated by the nozzle inserted from the upper portion of the sample container 20.

On the other hand, in the state shown in fig. 3 (b), the operator visually observes information that the distance in the vertical direction of the plasma region corresponds to 1.5 marks of the mark 141. Then, the operator determines that the sample amount necessary for the measurement is not stored in the sample container 20 based on the fact that 1.5 gradations obtained by the visual observation are smaller than 2 gradations corresponding to the sample amount necessary for the measurement. When the amount of the sample necessary for measurement is not stored in this manner, the operator takes out the sample container 20 from the sample rack 10 and does not transfer it to the measurement unit.

Here, the scale number corresponding to the amount of the sample necessary for the measurement is determined in advance, and is described in, for example, a manual of a sample analyzer. At this time, the operator refers to a manual or the like to obtain the scale number corresponding to the amount of the sample necessary for the measurement. The scale number corresponding to the amount of the sample required for measurement can be displayed on the display unit of the sample analyzer. The scale number corresponding to the amount of the sample required for measurement is determined based on the diameter of the inner surface of the body 220 of the sample container 20, a measurement command set for the sample, a dead volume generated when the aspirated sample is transferred, a dead volume generated to prevent erroneous aspiration of blood cells, and the like. The scale number corresponding to the amount of sample required for measurement will be described later.

In addition, instead of the scale number corresponding to the amount of the sample necessary for the measurement, the length of the sample necessary for the measurement in the vertical direction may be determined in advance and may be described in a manual or the like of the sample analyzer. At this time, the operator obtains the length of the sample in the vertical direction in the sample container 20 as the sample amount by visual observation using the mark 141 and the marker 142 of the sample rack 10 with the interval of the mark 141 of 5 mm. Then, the operator compares the length of the sample in the vertical direction obtained by visual observation with a predetermined length, and determines whether or not the sample amount necessary for measurement is stored.

When the sample container 20 is placed on the container placement part 110 at the positions 11 to 15, the vertical distance of the plasma region can be grasped by using the marker 141 and the marker 142 at the position close to the container placement part 110, as in fig. 3 (a) and (b).

As described above, the sample rack 10 is provided with the mark 141 for measuring the amount of the sample received in the sample container 20 mounted on the container mounting portion 110. Thus, the operator can quickly and easily grasp the amount of the sample in the sample container 20 by comparing the liquid level of the sample in the sample container 20 set in the container setting portion 110 with the position of the mark 141. Therefore, the burden on the operator in confirming the sample amount can be reduced. In addition, a plurality of marks 141 are arranged at equal intervals in the plane 140. This makes it possible to easily grasp the amount of the sample in the sample container 20.

The markers 142 are disposed in a predetermined number of the marks 141 arranged in the hollow space. In this way, if the markers 142 are arranged at equal intervals on the markers 141, the number of markers 141 corresponding to the sample amount can be easily counted. Therefore, the sample size can be grasped more quickly and easily.

The plurality of marks 141 are arranged in the vertical direction of the sample rack 10, and are arranged in the depth direction of the sample in the sample container 20 placed in the container placement unit 110. This enables the amount of the sample in the sample container 20 to be smoothly grasped.

The mark 141 and the marker 142 are formed by projections and recesses formed in the sample rack 10. Specifically, the mark 141 is a gap of 2 recesses 140a, and the marker 142 is a notch provided in the mark 141. In this manner, when the mark 141 and the marker 142 are formed as parts of the specimen rack 10, durability of the mark 141 and the marker 142 can be improved as compared with a case where the mark 141 and the marker 142 are formed of a label or the like.

Further, a mark 141 and a marker 142 are provided on the adjacent planes 140 with respect to the container placement units 110 at the positions 12 to 16. This makes it possible to smoothly grasp the amount of the sample in the sample container 20 set at the positions 12 to 16 by using the adjacent marker 141 and the marker 142. In addition, when the identification member 101 is not required to be provided at the sample rack 10, a plane 140 may be provided between the container seating part 110 at the position 11 and the container seating part 110 at the position 12 instead of the space 130. Thus, the amount of the sample in the sample container 20 set at the position 11 can be smoothly grasped using the marker 141 and the marker 142 provided on the adjacent flat surfaces 140.

In addition, 4 planes 140 between the container placement parts 110 at the positions 12 to 16, in other words, between the adjacent 2 openings 111 are provided with the mark 141 and the marker 142. Thus, the amount of the sample in the sample container 20 set in the adjacent container setting part 110 can be grasped using the mark 141 and the marker 142 provided on the 1 flat surface 140. Therefore, the sample rack 10 can be simplified as compared with the case where the markers 141 and the markers 142 are arranged so as to correspond to the container placement units 110 at the positions 12 to 16 one by one.

The sample rack 10 includes a space 130 for attaching the identification member 101 for identifying the sample rack 10 to the side surface 10a provided with the opening 111. Thus, the information reading portion 373 can read both the identifying member 101 of the sample rack 10 and the identifying member 201 of the sample container 20 from one side of the sample rack 10.

In the example shown in fig. 3 (a) and (b), the sample container 20 after centrifugation is shown as containing a sample, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the sample container 20 may contain a sample transferred from a liquid after centrifugation. For example, as shown in fig. 4 (a) and (b), the sample container 20 set in the container setting part 110 may contain only plasma as a sample.

In the state shown in fig. 4 (a), the operator visually observes information that the distance from the lower end of the sample container 20 to the upper side of the plasma region corresponds to 3.5 marks of the mark 141. Then, the operator determines that the sample container 20 contains the amount of the sample necessary for the measurement based on the fact that the 3.5 scale obtained by the visual observation is larger than the 3 scale corresponding to the amount of the sample necessary for the measurement. Similarly, in the state shown in fig. 4 (b), the operator visually observes the information that the distance from the lower end of the sample container 20 to the upper side surface of the plasma region corresponds to 1 mark of the mark 141. Then, the operator determines that the sample amount necessary for the measurement is not stored in the sample container 20 based on the fact that 1 scale obtained by visual observation is smaller than 3 scales corresponding to the sample amount necessary for the measurement.

As shown in fig. 4 (a) and (b), the bottom surface of the container mounting portion 110 has a height almost equal to that of the bottom surface of the sample container 20 mounted on the container mounting portion 110. Therefore, if the plurality of marks 141 are provided starting from the bottom surface of the container mounting portion 110, the amount of the sample in the sample container 20 can be confirmed starting from the bottom surface of the sample container 20 mounted on the container mounting portion 110.

In the example shown in fig. 4 (a) and (b), unlike the case of fig. 3 (a) and (b), there are no areas of the buffy coat layer and no areas of the red blood cells. Therefore, as shown in fig. 4 (a) and (b), when the sample container 20 contains only plasma, the scale number corresponding to the amount of the sample necessary for measurement is determined based on the diameter of the inner surface of the body 220 of the sample container 20, the measurement command set for the sample, the dead volume generated when the aspirated sample is transferred, the dead volume remaining on the bottom surface of the sample container 20 during aspiration, and the like.

In fig. 3 (a) to 4 (b), examples are shown in which the sample is plasma, but the liquid contained in the sample container 20 as the sample is not limited to plasma. That is, the sample stored in the sample container 20 and transported by the sample rack 10 is not limited to plasma, and may be whole blood, serum, urine, lymph, body cavity fluid, or the like. For example, when a blood cell test-related measurement is performed on a sample in the measurement unit, the sample may be whole blood. For example, when a measurement portion performs measurement related to blood coagulation test, immunoassay test, or biochemical test on a sample, the sample may be plasma. For example, when the measurement portion performs an immunoassay or biochemical assay for a sample, the sample may be serum.

Next, a sample analyzer 30 that analyzes a sample using the sample rack 10 will be described.

In the sample analyzer 30 described below, the sample to be analyzed is plasma. The sample analyzer 30 performs a measurement related to a blood coagulation test on a plasma sample, and performs a sample analysis based on the measurement result.

As shown in fig. 5, the sample analyzer 30 includes a conveying unit 31, a measuring unit 32, and an analyzing unit 33.

The transport unit 31 transports the sample rack 10 set by the operator, and supplies the sample set in the sample container 20 of the sample rack 10 to the measurement unit 32.

The measurement unit 32 includes a control unit 32a, a storage unit 32b, and various mechanism units used for the measurement described with reference to fig. 6. The control unit 32a is, for example, a CPU. The storage unit 32b is, for example, a ROM, a RAM, or a hard disk. The control unit 32a controls each unit in the measurement unit 32 and the conveying unit 31 according to the program and data stored in the storage unit 32 b. The control unit 32a aspirates the sample supplied by the conveyance unit 31, performs measurement related to the blood coagulation test on the sample, and sends the measurement result to the analysis unit 33.

The analysis unit 33 includes a control unit 33a, a storage unit 33b, a display unit 33c, and an input unit 33 d. The control unit 33a is, for example, a CPU. The storage unit 33b is, for example, a ROM, a RAM, or a hard disk. The control unit 33a controls each unit in the analysis unit 33 and the measurement unit 32 according to the program and data stored in the storage unit 33 b. The control unit 33a analyzes the sample based on the measurement result received from the measurement unit 32. The display unit 33c is, for example, a liquid crystal display. The input unit 33d is, for example, a mouse or a keyboard. The display unit 33c and the input unit 33d may be integrally formed by a touch panel display or the like.

As shown in fig. 6, the conveying section 31 includes a rack storage section 41, a rack conveying section 42, a rack collecting section 43, and an information reading section 373.

The operator places the sample container 20 containing the sample in the sample rack 10, grasps the amount of the sample in the sample container 20, and determines whether or not the amount of the sample necessary for the measurement is contained, as shown in fig. 3 (a) and (b) or fig. 4 (a) and (b). When the sample amount necessary for measurement is not stored, the operator removes the sample container 20 from the sample rack 10. When a sample amount necessary for measurement is stored, the operator rotates the sample container 20 about the Z axis in the container mounting portion 110, and positions the identifying member 201 of the sample container 20 in the opening 111. Then, the operator sets the specimen rack 10 in the rack storage portion 41.

The transport section 31 transports the sample rack 10 set in the rack storage section 41 to the right end of the rack transport section 42 and further to the front of the information reading section 373. The information reading unit 373 is located behind the conveyance area of the rack conveyance unit 42, and reads the barcode from the

identification member

101 or 201 located in front. In addition, when the

identification members

101 and 201 are RFID tags, the information reading portion 373 is an antenna for reading RFID.

Thereafter, the transport unit 31 transports the sample rack 10 in the left direction so that the sample containers 20 are sequentially positioned at the aspirating position 375. A sample is pipetted from the sample container 20 at the pipetting position 375. After the completion of the sample aspiration of all the sample containers 20 set in the sample rack 10, the transport unit 31 transports the sample rack 10 to the rack collection unit 43.

The measurement unit 32 includes a sample dispensing unit 410, a reaction container stage 420, a heating stage 430, a reagent stage 440,

reagent dispensing units

450 and 460, a transfer unit 470, and a detection unit 480.

The sample dispensing unit 410 includes a suction nozzle 411, an arm 412, and a mechanism 413. The suction nozzle 411 is provided at the front end of the arm 412. The front end of the nozzle 411 is sharp to penetrate the stopper 210 of the sample container 20. The mechanism 413 rotates the arm 412 in the circumferential direction and moves the arm in the vertical direction. Thereby, the suction nozzle 411 can move in the circumferential direction and the up-down direction.

The sample dispensing section 410 lowers the suction nozzle 411 through the plug 210 from above with respect to the sample container 20 located at the suction position 375. Then, the sample dispensing unit 410 aspirates a sample from the sample container 20 through the nozzle 411, and discharges the aspirated sample to the reaction container 422 placed in the placement hole 421 of the reaction container stage 420. The amount of the sample aspirated by the sample dispensing unit 410 is obtained by adding the minimum amount of the sample necessary for measurement of the measurement item set for the sample and the dead volume generated when the aspirated sample is transferred.

The reaction well table 420 has a ring shape in a plan view and is disposed outside the reagent table 440. The reaction vessel table 420 can be rotated in the circumferential direction. The reaction vessel table 420 has a plurality of receiving holes 421 for receiving reaction vessels 422.

The heating stage 430 includes a plurality of mounting holes 431 for mounting the reaction containers 422 and a transfer portion 432 for transferring the reaction containers 422. The heating stage 430 has a circular contour in a plan view and is rotatable in a circumferential direction. The heating stage 430 heats the reaction vessel 422 placed in the seating hole 431 to 37 ℃.

After the sample is discharged into the reaction container 422 placed on the reaction container stage 420, the reaction container stage 420 is rotated, and the reaction container 422 containing the sample is transferred to the vicinity of the heating stage 430. Then, the transfer portion 432 of the heating stage 430 holds the reaction container 422 and places it in the mounting hole 431 of the heating stage 430.

The reagent table 440 can be provided with a plurality of reagent containers 441 that store reagents used for measurements relating to blood coagulation tests. The reagent table 440 can rotate in the circumferential direction. The reagent table 440 is provided with a plurality of reagent containers 441 each containing a reagent used for measurement of a measurement item.

The reagent dispensing unit 450 includes a nozzle 451 and a mechanism 452. The mechanism 452 moves the nozzle 451 in the horizontal direction so as to cross the reagent table 440, and also moves the nozzle 451 in the vertical direction. Similarly, the reagent dispensing unit 460 includes a suction nozzle 461 and a mechanism 462. The mechanism 462 moves the suction nozzle 461 in the horizontal direction so as to cross the reagent table 440, and also moves the suction nozzle 461 in the vertical direction. The

reagent dispensing units

450 and 460 are provided below the upper side surface of the casing of the measurement unit 32.

The

reagent dispensing units

450 and 460 dispense reagents into the reaction containers 422 heated by the heating stage 430. When dispensing the reagent, the

transfer unit

432 or 470 takes out the reaction container 422 from the mounting hole 431 of the heating stage 430 and positions it at a predetermined position near the heating stage 430. Then, the

reagent dispensing units

450 and 460 aspirate the reagent from the reagent container 441 via the

nozzles

451 and 461, and discharge the aspirated reagent to the reaction container 422. Thus, the reagent is mixed with the sample to prepare a measurement sample. Thereafter, the transfer unit 470 places the reaction container 422 in the placement hole 481 of the detection unit 480.

The measurement principle of the detection section 480 is, for example, a coagulation method, a synthetic matrix method, an immunoturbidimetry method, an agglutination method, or the like. The detecting portion 480 has a plurality of mounting holes 481. The detector 480 irradiates light to the reaction container 422 placed in the mounting hole 481, receives the light transmitted through the measurement sample, and outputs a signal according to the intensity of the received light. The control unit 32a of the measurement unit 32 stores the signal output from the detection unit 480 as a measurement result, and transmits the measurement result to the analysis unit 33.

The control unit 33a of the analysis unit 33 shown in fig. 5 performs a blood coagulation test-related analysis on the sample based on the measurement result received from the measurement unit 32. Specifically, the controller 33a performs control of PT, APTT, Fbg, extrinsic factor, intrinsic factor, factor XIII, HpT, TTO, FDP, D-dimer, PIC, FM, ATIII, Plg, APL, PC, VWF: ag. VWF: measurement items such as RCo, ADP, collagen, and epinephrine were analyzed.

Next, the detailed structure of the specimen rack 10 and the conveying section 31 will be described.

As shown in fig. 7, the pedestal portion 160 is provided below the container placement portion 110. The pedestal part 160 includes

plate parts

161, 162 parallel to the X-Z plane and

plate parts

163, 164 parallel to the Y-Z plane. The

plate portions

161, 162 are located on the Y-axis positive side and the Y-axis negative side of the pedestal portion 160, respectively. The

plate portions

163, 164 are located on the X-axis negative side and the X-axis positive side of the pedestal portion 160, respectively. The Y-axis positive side surface 161a of the plate portion 161, the Y-axis negative side surface 162a of the plate portion 162, and the X-axis negative side surface 163a of the plate portion 163 form the outer side surface of the pedestal portion 160. Fig. 7 shows an inner surface 162b of the plate 162 on the Y-axis positive side.

The bottom surface 160a of the base 160 is formed by the lower ends of the plate portions 161 to 164. A hollow is formed inside the pedestal portion 160 surrounded by the plate portions 161 to 164, and the hollow is open in the positive direction of the Z-axis. In other words, the bottom surface 160a of the pedestal portion 160 surrounded by the plate portions 161 to 164 is formed with a concave portion.

The plate 161 has 2 notches 131, and a wall 132 is formed on the inner surface 162b of the plate 162 at a position facing the 2 notches 131. As shown in fig. 7, the wall 132 is formed by the inner surface 162b of the plate portion 162.

In addition, the bottom surface 160a of the sample rack 10 is provided with an engaging portion 133. The engaging portion 133 according to embodiment 1 is a notch provided in the

side surfaces

161a and 162 a. The 2 notches constituting the engaging portion 133 are opposed in the Y-axis direction. The engaging portion 133 has a triangular shape as viewed in the Y-axis direction. As described later, the engagement portion 133 engages with a projection 312 provided on the bottom surface 41a of the rack storage portion 41 and extending in a direction toward the conveyance path 42 a.

Similarly, the bottom surface 160a of the sample rack 10 is provided with an engaging portion 134. The engaging portion 134 of embodiment 1 is a notch provided in the

side surfaces

161a and 162 a. The 2 notches constituting the engaging portion 134 are opposed in the Y-axis direction. The engaging portion 134 has a rectangular shape as viewed in the Y-axis direction. As described later, the engaging portion 134 engages with a protrusion 361 provided on a belt 360 that transports the specimen rack 10 on the transport path 42 a.

In addition, the side surface 163a of the sample rack 10 is provided with an engaging portion 135. The engaging portion 135 is formed in the plate portion 163, and is a notch penetrating the plate portion 163 in the Y-axis direction. As described later, the engagement portion 135 engages with a projection 313 provided at a side portion of the rack storage portion 41 and extending in a direction toward the conveyance path 42 a.

As shown in fig. 8, the rack storage unit 41 includes a support member 310, a restriction member 320, and a feeding member 330.

The specimen rack 10 placed in the rack storage portion 41 is supported by the bottom surface 41a of the rack storage portion 41. The bottom surface 41a of the rack storage 41 is constituted by the upper side surface of the support member 310. The support member 310 is a plate-like member that expands in the horizontal direction. The restricting member 320 has a U-shape as viewed in the Z-axis direction. The restriction member 320 is formed with 2 claw portions 321. The claw portion 321 can protrude from below the bottom surface 41a into the rack storage portion 41 through a hole 311 formed in the support member 310.

The support member 310 has a projection 312 extending in the Y-axis direction on the upper surface thereof. The projection 312 is provided at a position corresponding to the engagement portion 133 of the sample rack 10. That is, the projection 312 is provided on the upper side surface of the support member 310, and the engagement portion 133 of the sample rack 10 placed in the rack storage portion 41 is engaged with the projection 312.

As described above, when the engaging portion 133 is provided in the sample rack 10 and the projection 312 is provided in the rack storage portion 41, the sample rack 10 moves in the rack storage portion 41 in a state where the engaging portion 133 is along the projection 312. Therefore, the operator can reliably place the sample rack 10 in the rack storage portion 41 by sliding the sample rack 10 relative to the regulating member 320 with the engaging portion 133 along the projection 312. The carrying member 330 for carrying the sample rack 10 set in the rack storage 41 to the carrying path 42a can reliably carry the sample rack 10 in the carrying direction to the carrying path 42 a.

A projection 313 extending in the Y-axis direction is formed at the X-axis negative side end of the support member 310. The protrusion 313 provided on the side portion of the rack storage portion 41 is provided at a position corresponding to the engagement portion 135 of the sample rack 10. That is, the projection 313 is provided at the end of the support member 310 on the X-axis negative side, and the engagement portion 135 of the sample rack 10 placed in the rack storage portion 41 is engaged with the projection 313.

As described above, when the engaging portion 135 is provided in the sample rack 10 and the projection 313 is provided in the rack storage portion 41, the sample rack 10 moves in the rack storage portion 41 in a state where the engaging portion 135 is along the projection 313. Therefore, the operator can reliably set the sample rack 10 in the rack storage portion 41 by sliding the sample rack 10 relative to the regulating member 320 with the engaging portion 135 along the protrusion 313. The carrying member 330 for carrying the sample rack 10 set in the rack storage 41 to the carrying path 42a can reliably carry the sample rack 10 in the carrying direction to the carrying path 42 a.

The 2 feeding members 330 are provided to a member 351 provided below the supporting member 310. The 2 feeding members 330 are moved in the Y-axis direction by the movement of the member 351 in the Y-axis direction.

The rack transport unit 42 includes 2 conveyor belts 360, a motor 371, a motor 372, an information reading unit 373, and a pushing member 374. The conveyance path 42a of the rack conveyance unit 42 is formed by the upper side surfaces of the 2 conveyors 360, and conveys the specimen rack 10.

The 2 belts 360 extend in parallel to each other in the X-axis direction, and are connected to pulleys at the ends on the X-axis positive side and the X-axis negative side. The motor 371 rotates a pulley connected to the Y-axis front side belt 360 to drive the Y-axis front side belt 360. The motor 372 rotates a pulley connected to the Y-axis negative-side belt 360 to drive the Y-axis negative-side belt 360. Each of the 2 conveyor belts 360 has 1 protrusion 361 protruding in the negative Z-axis direction. The width of the protrusion 361 in the X-axis direction is set so that the engagement portion 134 of the sample rack 10 engages with the protrusion 361.

When the sample rack 10 is loaded from the rack storage section 41 to the rack transport section 42, one of the 2 conveyors 360 is driven so that the projection 361 corresponds to the position of the engagement section 134 of the sample rack 10. In this state, the claw portion 321 of the regulating member 320 moves below the bottom surface 41a of the rack storage portion 41, and the carrying member 330 pushes the side surface 162a of the sample rack 10. Thus, the sample rack 10 in the rack storage unit 41 is conveyed to the conveyance path 42a of the rack conveyance unit 42, and the engaging portion 134 of the sample rack 10 engages with the protrusion 361 of the conveyor belt 360.

When the rack storage section 41 stores a plurality of sample racks 10, the carrying member 330 pushes the sample rack 10 closest to the Y-axis negative side among the stored sample racks 10, and moves all the sample racks 10 in the Y-axis direction. Thereby, the sample rack 10 closest to the Y-axis positive side is sent to the conveyance path 42 a.

After the engaging portion 134 of the sample rack 10 engages with the protrusion 361 of the conveyor belt 360, the conveyor belt 360 is driven in a state where the engaging portion 134 engages with the protrusion 361, whereby the sample rack 10 is conveyed in the X-axis positive direction. In this way, when the engaging portion 134 is provided in the sample rack 10 and the protrusion 361 is provided in the conveyor belt 360, the sample rack 10 can be conveyed along the conveyance path 42a with a simplified configuration. Further, the sample rack 10 can be transported to the aspirating position 375 provided in the rack transporting unit 42 by simply driving the conveyor belt 360, and therefore the rack transporting unit 42 can be simplified.

The information reading unit 373 reads the identifying member 101 of the sample rack 10 conveyed by the rack conveying unit 42. The information reading unit 373 reads the barcode from the identification member 201 of the sample container 20 mounted on the sample rack 10 through the opening 111 of the sample rack 10. Thereafter, the sample rack 10 is transported in the X-axis direction so that the plurality of mounted sample containers 20 are sequentially positioned at the aspirating position 375 of the measuring section 32. After the suction of all the sample containers 20 is completed, the sample rack 10 is positioned at the end of the transport path 42a on the X-axis side. Then, the pushing member 374 pushes the side surface 161a on the Y-axis positive side of the sample rack 10 in the Y-axis negative direction, and feeds it onto the supporting member 380 of the rack collecting unit 43. Thereby, the sample rack 10 is collected in the rack collecting unit 43.

As shown in fig. 9 (a) and (b), the projection 312 provided on the upper surface of the support member 310 extends in the Y-axis direction and has a triangular shape when viewed in the Y-axis direction. A projection 313 extending in the Y-axis direction is formed at the X-axis negative side end of the support member 310. The projection 313 projects in the X-axis negative direction with respect to a wall portion parallel to the Y-Z plane formed on the upper surface of the support member 310. The projection 313 is constituted by a plate-like portion parallel to the horizontal plane. Further, a wall portion 314 extending in the Y-axis direction is formed at the end portion of the support member 310 on the X-axis positive side. The wall portion 314 is formed on the upper side surface of the support member 310 and is constituted by a plate-like portion parallel to the Y-Z plane. The range of the rack storage portion 41 in the X axis direction is defined by the protrusion 313 and the wall portion 314.

When the sample rack 10 is set in the rack storage portion 41, the operator engages the engaging portion 135 of the sample rack 10 with the projection 313 in the negative X-axis direction and engages the engaging portion 133 of the sample rack 10 with the projection 312. Thus, the sample rack 10 is properly disposed on the support member 310. Then, the operator manually moves the sample rack 10 placed on the support member 310 in the positive Y-axis direction. The claw 321 of the restriction member 320 is provided at a position corresponding to the notch 131. Thereby, the claw 321 protruding upward from the upper side of the support member 310 enters the inside of the specimen holder 10 via the notch 131, and abuts against the wall 132.

The regulating member 320 includes 2 claw portions 321 at positions corresponding to the 2 notches 131 of the sample rack 10. The claw portions 321 abut against the walls 132 of the sample rack 10, thereby preventing the sample rack 10 from being accidentally moved from the rack storage portion 41 to the conveyance path 42 a. The number of the claw portions 321 provided in the restriction member 320 is not limited to 2, and may be 1, 3 or more depending on the number of the slits 131.

The 2 feeding members 330 are provided at the ends of the member 351 on the X-axis positive side and the X-axis negative side, respectively. The feeding member 330 is provided to the member 351 and can rotate about the Z-axis as a rotation center. The feeding member 330 on the X-axis positive side is urged by a spring 331 to rotate counterclockwise when viewed in the Z-axis positive direction, and the feeding member 330 on the X-axis negative side is urged by the spring 331 to rotate clockwise when viewed in the Z-axis positive direction. The feed member 330 is connected to the stopper 332, whereby the rotational position of the feed member 330 when it is fed out of the sample rack 10 is fixed.

When the carrying-in member 330 carries out the sample rack 10, the carrying-in member 330 moves in the positive Y-axis direction from the end of the rack storage portion 41 on the negative Y-axis side by the member 351, and pushes out the side surface 162a of the sample rack 10 on the negative Y-axis side. After the feeding member 330 finishes feeding, it returns to the end portion of the rack storage portion 41 on the Y-axis negative side again. At this time, if there is a sample rack 10 in the rack storage unit 41, the carrying member 330 hits against the side surface 161a on the Y-axis positive side of the sample rack 10, rotates around the Z-axis, and retracts from the inside of the rack storage unit 41. Thus, the feeding member 330 returns to the end portion of the rack storage 41 on the Y-axis negative side without being obstructed by the specimen rack 10.

Next, the amount of the sample required for the measurement and the scale corresponding to the amount of the sample required for the measurement will be exemplified in detail.

The sample stored in the sample container 20 is preset with a measurement command indicating what kind of measurement is to be performed. For example, when a measurement command including PT, APTT, and Fbg3 measurement items is set for a sample, a certain amount of sample is required for each measurement item in order to perform all 3 types of measurements on the sample. When a sample preparation measurement sample is aspirated from the sample container 20, a sample that cannot be used for measurement remains in the suction nozzle 411 of the sample dispensing unit 410. When the plasma sample is located in the upper layer of the sample container 20, the plasma sample needs to be aspirated from above the albuginea layer to some extent in order to prevent erroneous aspiration of blood cells from the albuginea layer and red blood cells. In addition, when the sample container 20 contains only a sample, an unabated sample remains on the bottom surface of the sample container 20 when the sample is aspirated from the sample container 20.

Therefore, as shown in fig. 10 (a), when the plasma is located above the liquid, the amount of the sample necessary for the measurement is a sum of the amount of the sample necessary for the measurement of the measurement items set for the sample, the dead volume generated when the aspirated sample is transferred, and the dead volume generated to prevent the erroneous aspiration of the blood cells. As shown in fig. 10 (b), when only plasma is stored in the sample container 20, the amount of sample required for measurement is a sum of the amount of sample required for measurement of the measurement items set for the sample, the dead volume generated when the aspirated sample is transferred, and the dead volume remaining on the bottom surface of the sample container 20 during aspiration.

Specifically, in the measurement unit 32 for performing the measurement related to blood coagulation, the amounts of samples necessary for measuring the items PT, APTT, and Fbg are 50. mu.L, and 10. mu.L, respectively. The dead volume when pipetting the sample was transferred was about 100 μ L. When the diameter of the inner surface of the body 220 of the sample container 20 is 9.4mm, the dead volume generated to prevent erroneous aspiration of blood cells is about 600. mu.L, and the dead volume remaining on the bottom surface of the sample container 20 is about 600. mu.L. At this time, as shown in fig. 10 (a), the height of the plasma region corresponding to the dead volume for preventing the aspiration of blood cells is 7.5 mm. As shown in fig. 10 (b), the height of the plasma region corresponding to the dead volume remaining on the bottom surface of the sample container 20 was 12.0 mm.

Here, when the diameter of the inner surface of the body portion 220 of the sample container 20 is d3, the total of the amounts of the samples necessary for measurement of the measurement items set in the measurement command is V1, the dead volume for transferring the sample is V2, and the height of the plasma region in the sample container 20 corresponding to V1 + V2 is H, the relationship between d3, H, V1, and V2 is calculated by the following equation.

π×（d3／2）²×H＝V1＋V2

When d3 ═ 9.4mm and V1 ═ 50 μ L + 10 μ L, V2 ═ 100 μ L were substituted into the above formula, H was 3.0 mm.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10 (a), when the plasma is located on the upper part of the liquid, the length of the sample required for measurement in the vertical direction is 10.5 mm. As shown in fig. 10 (b), when only plasma is contained in the sample container 20, the length of the sample necessary for measurement in the vertical direction is 15.0 mm. Therefore, since the interval between the marks 141 is 5mm, the sample size required for measurement is set to 2 scales in the example shown in fig. 3 (a) and (b), and 3 scales in the example shown in fig. 4 (a) and (b).

The length of the sample in the vertical direction required for measurement is approximately in the range of several millimeters to several tens of millimeters, depending on the diameter of the inner surface of the body portion 220 of the sample container 20 that can be placed on the sample rack 10, measurement items set in measurement commands, and the like. Therefore, by setting the interval between the plurality of marks 141 to be 1mm to 10mm, the operator can easily grasp the amount of the sample in the sample container 20. In the case shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and (b), the suction nozzle is preferably moved upward from the white membrane layer by a distance of 5mm or more to aspirate plasma. Therefore, by setting the interval between the marks 141 to 2mm or more and 5mm or less, it is possible to easily grasp in advance whether or not there is a layer of plasma of 5mm or more upward from the leukocyte layer.

Next, another embodiment of the specimen rack 10 will be described. In embodiments 2 to 7 described below, the configuration other than the specimen rack 10 is the same as that of embodiment 1. In embodiments 2 to 5, only the mark 141 and the marker 142 provided on the flat surface 140 adjacent to the container mounting portion 110 at the position 16 are shown, and the mark 141 and the marker 142 are provided on the other flat surfaces 140 in the same manner.

< embodiment 2 >

As shown in fig. 11 (a), in the sample rack 10 according to embodiment 2, the mark 141 is formed of a convex portion protruding in the Y-axis positive direction on the plane 140, and the marker 142 is formed of a convex portion protruding in the Y-axis positive direction on the mark 141, as compared with embodiment 1. The mark 141 and the marker 142 in embodiment 2 are provided at the same positions as the mark 141 and the marker 142 shown in fig. 1. In embodiment 2, as in embodiment 1, the operator can quickly and easily grasp the amount of the sample in the sample container 20 set in the container setting part 110 by using the mark 141 and the marker 142.

In addition, in fig. 11 (a), the marker 142 may be formed by a notch formed in the mark 141.

As shown in fig. 11 (b), the marker 142 may be formed on the X-axis positive side of the mark 141. In addition, in fig. 11 (b), the mark 141 and the marker 142 may be formed by a concave portion formed on the plane 140.

In the example shown in fig. 11 (b), the interval between the markers 142 is 2 times the interval between the markers 141, but may not be an integral multiple of the interval between the markers 141. For example, the markers 142 may be spaced 1.5 times the spacing of the markers 141. At this time, the position of a part of the markers 142 among the plurality of markers 142 is located at a position different from the position of the mark 141.

As shown in fig. 12 (a), it is possible to design: the mark 141 is formed of a concave portion recessed in the Y-axis negative direction in the plane 140, and the marker 142 is formed of a portion of the plane 140 provided at the center position in the X-axis direction of the mark 141 formed of the concave portion. In fig. 12 (a), the marker 142 configured as a part of the plane 140 may be configured by a convex portion protruding from the plane 140 in the positive Y-axis direction.

< embodiment 3 >

As shown in fig. 12 (b), the sample rack 10 according to embodiment 3 has a label 143 attached to the flat surface 140. The label 143 is provided with a mark 141 and a marker 142 at the same positions as the mark 141 and the marker 142 shown in fig. 11 (b), respectively, in the form of a pattern printed on the label. In embodiment 3, as in embodiment 1, the operator can quickly and easily grasp the amount of the sample in the sample container 20 set in the container setting part 110 by using the mark 141 and the marker 142. In addition, by replacing the label 143, the interval between the arrangement of the marker 141 and the marker 142 can be easily changed.

In fig. 12 (b), each mark 141 and each marker 142 may be labels individually attached to the plane 140. The mark 141 and the marker 142 are not limited to a label or a pattern printed on a label, and may be a decoration having a certain shape indicating the position in the Z-axis direction on the plane 140. For example, the mark 141 and the marker 142 may be constituted by a scale printed on a ruler of the sample rack 10.

< embodiment 4 >

As shown in fig. 13 (a), in the specimen rack 10 according to embodiment 4, the mark 141 and the marker 142 are provided only upward from the center position in the vertical direction of the container mounting portion 110, as compared with embodiment 1. As described above, if the mark 141 and the marker 142 are provided at least at the upper portion with respect to the center in the vertical direction of the container mounting portion 110, for example, when the sample is plasma and the separated plasma is located at the upper layer in the sample container 20, the amount of plasma in the sample container 20 can be grasped by the plurality of marks 141 and markers 142.

As shown in fig. 13 (b), the mark 141 and the marker 142 may be provided only from the center position in the vertical direction of the container placement portion 110 downward. As described above, if the mark 141 and the marker 142 are provided at least at the lower portion with respect to the center in the vertical direction of the container mounting portion 110, the amount of the sample in the sample container 20 can be grasped by the plurality of marks 141 and the markers 142 when the sample container 20 contains only a small amount of the sample. Further, 1 mark 141 may be provided upward or downward from the center position in the vertical direction of the container mounting portion 110.

< embodiment 5 >

As shown in fig. 14 (a), in the sample rack 10 according to embodiment 5, 1 mark 141 is formed on the flat surface 140. The mark 141 at this time is formed of a convex portion protruding in the Y-axis positive direction on the plane 140. In the sample container 20 set in the container setting part 110, when the separated plasma is located at the upper layer in the sample container 20 and the amount of the sample required for measurement is stored, the liquid level of the plasma is approximately above a certain height H2 in the vertical direction of the container setting part 110. The mark 141 shown in fig. 14 (a) is disposed at a position of a constant height H2 at this time. That is, reference numeral 141 denotes the amount of sample required for measurement.

Therefore, the operator can quickly and easily grasp whether or not the sample container 20 contains the amount of the sample necessary for the measurement by comparing the liquid level of the plasma in the sample container 20 set in the container setting portion 110 with the position of the mark 141. Specifically, the operator can determine that the sample container 20 does not contain the sample necessary for measurement when the liquid level of the plasma is below the mark 141, and can determine that the sample container 20 contains the sample necessary for measurement when the liquid level of the plasma is above the mark 141. Therefore, the burden on the operator in confirming the sample amount can be reduced.

In addition, when the sample container 20 set in the container setting part 110 only contains a sample, the mark 141 may be arranged at the liquid surface of the sample when the sample amount necessary for measurement is contained. The mark 141 is not limited to a convex portion, and may be a concave portion or a label. In addition, the mark 141 may be formed of a slider movable in the up-and-down direction on the plane 140.

The mark 141 shown in fig. 14 (a) may have a width H3 in the vertical direction as shown in fig. 14 (b). The vertical width of the mark 141 shown in fig. 14 (b) is set to the vertical width of the sample when the sample container 20 contains the amount of the sample necessary for measurement. At this time, even if the positions of the lower side surface and the upper side surface of the sample vary within the sample container 20 depending on the subject, the operator can easily compare the vertical width of the sample in the sample container 20 with the vertical width of the mark 141 adjacent to the container mounting portion 110. Therefore, the amount of the sample in the sample container 20 set in the container setting part 110 can be quickly and easily grasped.

< embodiment 6 >

As shown in fig. 15, in embodiment 6, the marks 141 and the markers 142 arranged on the 4 planes 140 are different from each other in the vertical direction interval. In other words, in embodiment 6, in the 1 st mark group in which the marks 141 are arranged in the vertical direction on one plane 140 and the 2 nd mark group in which the marks 141 are arranged in the vertical direction on the other plane 140, the intervals of the plurality of marks 141 in the 1 st mark group and the intervals of the plurality of marks 141 in the 2 nd mark group are different from each other.

Specifically, in the plane 140 of the position 171 between the container seating part 110 of the position 12 and the container seating part 110 of the position 13, the interval of the marks 141, i.e., the length of 1 graduation, is 1 mm. In the plane 140 of the position 172 between the container seating part 110 of the position 13 and the container seating part 110 of the position 14, the interval of the mark 141, i.e., the length of 1 graduation, is 2 mm. In the plane 140 of the position 173 between the container seating part 110 of the position 14 and the container seating part 110 of the position 15, the interval of the mark 141, i.e., the length of 1 graduation, is 3 mm. The interval of the marks 141, i.e., the length of 1 graduation, in the plane 140 of the position 174 between the container seating part 110 of the position 15 and the container seating part 110 of the position 16 is 5 mm.

In this way, if the intervals between the marks 141 at the positions 171 to 174 are different from each other, the operator can use the appropriate marks 141 for the sample container 20 to grasp the amount of the sample in the sample container 20 appropriately by distinguishing the marks 141 at the use positions 171 to 174 according to the width of the sample in the vertical direction in the sample container 20.

The interval of the mark 141 is not limited to be changed for each plane 140. For example, in the 1 plane 140, the intervals of the marks 141 of the lower half and the intervals of the marks 141 of the upper half may be different. In addition, the intervals of the plurality of marks 141 may be set such that the intervals of the marks 141 adjacent in the up-down direction in the 1 plane 140 become larger or smaller from the bottom surface of the container seating portion 110 to the upper side surface of the sample rack 10.

< embodiment 7 >

As shown in fig. 16 (a) to (c), in embodiment 7, 3 types of sample racks 10 are used according to the arrangement interval of the marker 141 and the marker 142. The intervals of the marks 141 of the 3 kinds of sample racks 10 are different from each other. The 3 kinds of sample racks 10 are respectively given different colors. In other words, in embodiment 7, the color given to the specimen rack 10 is set according to the type of the interval between the plurality of marks 141.

Specifically, in the specimen holder 10 shown in fig. 16 (a), the interval between the marks 141, i.e., the length of 1-step mark, is 5mm as in the case of fig. 1. The sample rack 10 in fig. 16 (a) is green in color. In the specimen holder 10 shown in fig. 16 (b), the interval of the marks 141, i.e., the length of 1 graduation, is 2 mm. The sample rack 10 in fig. 16 (b) is yellow in color. In the specimen holder 10 shown in fig. 16 (c), the interval of the marks 141, i.e., the length of 1 graduation, is 1 mm. The sample rack 10 in fig. 16 (c) is red in color.

In this way, when there are a plurality of sample racks 10 having different intervals of the marks 141, the operator can grasp the amount of the sample in the sample container 20 by using the appropriate marks 141 for the sample container 20 by using the sample racks 10 in different ways according to the width of the sample in the sample container 20 in the vertical direction. Further, the operator can recognize the sample racks 10 having different intervals of the marks 141 by the color, and thus can use the appropriate sample rack 10 reliably.

Description of the numbering

10 sample rack

10a side surface

20 sample container

30 sample analyzer

31 conveying part

41 shelf storage part

41a bottom surface

42a conveying path

101 identification member

110 container mounting part

111 opening

130 space

133 engaging part

135 mesh part

141 mark

142 identifier

201 identifying a component

312 projection

313 projection

373 information reading unit

Claims

1. A specimen rack for receiving a specimen container containing a specimen and transporting the received specimen container, comprising:

a container mounting portion that mounts the sample container;

a mark for measuring an amount of a sample received by the sample container mounted on the container mounting portion.

2. The sample holder of claim 1, wherein:

a plurality of said markers are provided.

3. The sample holder of claim 2, wherein:

the plurality of marks are arranged at equal intervals.

4. The sample holder of claim 3, wherein:

the interval between the marks is more than 1mm and less than 10 mm.

5. The sample holder of claim 3, wherein:

the interval between the plurality of marks is more than 2mm and less than 5 mm.

6. The specimen rack according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized by comprising:

and markers respectively arranged on the markers arranged at intervals.

7. The sample holder as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein:

the plurality of marks include a 1 st mark group in which the marks are arranged in the vertical direction and a 2 nd mark group in which the marks are arranged in the vertical direction;

intervals of the plurality of marks of the 1 st mark group and intervals of the plurality of marks of the 2 nd mark group are different from each other.

8. The sample holder as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein:

the color given to the specimen rack is set according to the kind of the interval of the plurality of marks.

9. The sample holder as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein:

the plurality of markers are arranged in the vertical direction of the sample rack.

10. The sample holder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein:

the mark is provided at least at an upper portion with respect to a center of the container placement portion in a vertical direction.

11. The sample holder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein:

the mark is provided at least at a lower portion with respect to a center of the container placement portion in a vertical direction.

12. The sample holder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein:

the mark is arranged with a bottom surface of the container mounting portion as a starting point.

13. The sample holder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein:

the mark is constituted by a certain shape formed on the sample holder or a certain decoration given to the sample holder.

14. The sample holder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein:

the mark is formed by a concave-convex formed on the sample holder.

15. The sample holder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein:

the mark is provided adjacent to the container mounting portion.

16. The sample holder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein:

the container mounting part is provided with a plurality of container mounting parts.

17. The sample holder of claim 16, wherein:

the mark is disposed between 2 adjacent container placement portions.

18. The specimen rack according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by comprising:

a space for attaching an identification member for identifying the sample rack.

19. The sample holder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein:

the width of the sample rack is designed to be transportable by a transport section for transporting sample containers.

20. The specimen rack according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by comprising:

a plurality of the container receiving portions;

a side surface provided with an opening for reading an identification member for identifying a sample attached to a sample container mounted on the container mounting portion by an information reading portion provided in the sample analyzer;

wherein the mark is arranged between 2 adjacent openings.

21. The sample holder of claim 20, wherein:

the side surface provided with the opening is provided with a space for attaching an identification member for identifying the sample rack.

22. The sample holder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein:

the sample rack is a sample rack for a sample analyzer having a sample rack for storing samples

A rack storage section and a transport path for transporting the sample rack stored in the rack storage section,

the specimen rack includes an engaging portion that engages with a protrusion provided on a bottom surface of the rack storage portion and extending in a direction toward the conveyance path.

23. The sample holder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein:

the sample rack is used in a sample analyzer having a rack storage section for storing sample racks for storing samples and a transport path for transporting the sample racks stored in the rack storage section,

the specimen rack includes an engaging portion that engages with a protrusion provided at a side portion of the rack storage portion and extending in a direction toward the conveyance path.

24. The sample holder as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein:

the sample container is a sample container that is subjected to centrifugal separation processing for separating plasma from whole blood,

the marker is capable of quantifying the amount of the plasma received in the sample container.

25. A sample rack for placing sample containers containing samples and transporting the placed sample containers, comprising:

a container placement unit for placing the sample container containing the sample;

a plurality of marks arranged at equal intervals;

and markers respectively arranged on the markers arranged at intervals.

26. The sample holder of claim 25, wherein:

the certain number is 1.

27. The sample holder as claimed in claim 25 or 26, wherein:

the identifier is comprised of a shape formed into the sample holder or a decoration imparted to the sample holder.

28. The sample holder as claimed in any one of claims 25 to 26, wherein:

the marker is formed by a concave-convex formed on the sample holder.

29. A sample rack for placing sample containers containing samples and transporting the placed sample containers, comprising:

and a plurality of marks arranged at equal intervals with the bottom surface of the container mounting part as a starting point.

30. A sample rack for placing sample containers containing samples and transporting the placed sample containers, comprising:

a plurality of container placement units for placing the sample containers containing the samples;

and a plurality of marks arranged at the same height position, wherein the marks are arranged between the adjacent 2 container placing parts.